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Introduction <br /> In the early 1900's the orchardists and ranchers along the North Fork of the Gunnison <br /> were looking for means to encourage an influx of settlers into the area around Paonia. <br /> The orchards were selling fruit all the way to the mid-west United States and needed <br /> additional labor and investment. The civic fathers even prepared a promotional booklet <br /> distributed through out the country highlighting the successful ventures and the valley <br /> fathers (of which Mr. Wakefield was highlighted) <br /> John Wakefield was one of the successfully established orchardists, and reasoned that <br /> without land, new homesteaders would have less incentive to relocate to the area around <br /> Paonia. <br /> Mr. Wakefield acquired land on Wakefield Mesa(prior Cedar Mesa)to sell to <br /> newcomers. But without irrigation water, the land would remain as seasonal grazing for <br /> sheep and cattle and no crops could be grown. In search of an irrigation source, Mr. <br /> Wakefield and his partners initially looked to the west branch of Roatcap Creek, forming <br /> the Oak Mesa Reservoir and Ditch Company in 1904. However, Roatcap Creek is <br /> reasonably seasonal in nature, running well during run-off, but drying down to a trickle <br /> after mid-June. <br /> The Oak Mesa Reservoir was never built, in that the dam across Long Draw(through <br /> which West Roatcap flows)would have had to have been nearly 3/4 mile long. <br /> As an alternative, Wakefield and his partners searched on the top of Oak Mesa,to their <br /> west, to look for an impoundment area at the correct elevation,to allow storage and water <br /> flow to Wakefield Mesa and the Basin. In 1905 Wakefield and partners organized the <br /> West Reservoir and Ditch Company (ie west of the Wakefield Mesa). Water rights were <br /> applied for and adjudicated for a 454 acre feet impoundment. That is the current West <br /> Reservoir in this discussion. <br /> The West Reservoir was built, a 7 mile ditch(Wakefield Ditch)was built, and irrigation <br /> began. The current landowners use the Oak Mesa Res. and Ditch water for spring <br /> irrigation, and when those flows are exhausted, save the West Reservoir flows for mid- <br /> summer to fall irrigation. <br /> The West Reservoir was improved in the early 1950's, but is now in need of repair of the <br /> outlet pipe and bringing the outlet system to current Office of the State Engineer Dam <br /> Safety requirements. <br /> Project Sponsor <br /> The West Reservoir and Ditch Company is a mutual ditch not-for-profit corporation <br /> registered in Colorado. The equity comprises 1.200 shares, with those shares held by <br /> three shareholders. The company has the right to set annual assessments due from the <br />